I’m pretty new to running. I started running seriously about 9 months ago. What prompted it? I stepped on a friend’s scale for my first weighing in 3 years and was horrified. The next day, I laced up my trainers and hit the pavement.

I’m pretty committed to it now. At first, I had to convince myself to go out each and every time. Now that I’ve got the right shoes, a good run mix on my iPod and some results (I’ve lost 30lbs) I love to get out there and go.

When I started, I wasn’t sure exactly how far I was running. I plotted a course in my neighborhood that seemed realistic and went for it. As it turns out, I was running 2.1 miles in about 35 minutes. Now, I’m up to 6.5 miles in about 55 minutes, 3 times each week. I know how far I’m going because of this genius website MapMyRun.com. For anyone serious about running and fitness, this is a website well worth exploration.

While you’re thinking about running, check out the running tips on the website of my local running store in Richmond. For all of us newbies, there’s some really valuable advice.